what sort of risk am i looking at from Anesthesia?
Before you can have any procedure, you have to get to the hospital, and getting there is probably riskier than the procedure itself. Do you worry about driving? Catching a bus? Crossing the road? Climbing the stairs? If you don't worry about these things why do you worry about the risks from a colonoscopy or anaesthetic?
I'm afraid that once you find yourself on the cancer bandwagon (and no-one gets on by choice!) then being risk averse can seriously shorten your life. If you need a procedure then you need it, and not having it because it carries some low risk could end up shortening your life by many years if you get untreated cancer. You have to trust your medics to give you the best advice - and if you don't trust them then find some different medics who you do trust!
To put it in context, last year I had a radical prostatectomy. Risk of dying within 30 days from that surgery is relatively high: about 0.3%. But, if I didn't have any treatment at all then the risk of dying within 10 years from advanced prostate cancer was up to 100%. What would you do?
To answer your specific question, before you have any general anaesthetic you should have a full pre-op assessment at the hospital. Once you've had a complete medical, any risks will be explained by the anaesthetist. Judging from my wife's reaction to her colonoscopy, you don't really need a general anaesthetic, but if you really want one then ask for one, and accept the additional (tiny) risk involved.
i like many others agree that the taking of the medication to clean your insides out is the worst of it but,if this is what has to be done then it is a small price to pay,and when its over you are usually ok ,so try not to worry about it,and hopefully everything is fine,so take care and let us no how you get on.
I have had several and found them more uncomfortable than painful...the guys assertions that the risk of not having it far outweigh the risks for having it are definately correct. It is very very unfortunate that they have to inform you of the risks, frankly they do so as a precaution to cover themselves. The risks are no more dangerous than taken a tablet....If you look at some of the pain relief medications and read through the sheet of paper that comes neatly folded in the packet you would never take another pill.
As for complete sedation, it is not advisable as they need to get you to move about and the sedation they give you enables you to be up and about in 10-20 mins. You can have the sedation or take gas and air....I have tried both and are equally effective.
Please do not worry if you can, this is a scary time and we all understand what you are going through...however for some reason the cup of tea and the biscuits afterwards are the best ever, maybe something to do with not eating for a while.
All the very best, keep coming on here to let us know how you get on.
Not sure what terms they use in the UK - when I had a colonoscopy I was offered 'twilight' anaesthetic where apparently you can respond to instructions to move etc. but you won't remember any of it. Suited me fine. I have a friend who insisted I had lost a wonderful opportunity to see what my colon looked like on the inside by choosing to be anaesthetised - frankly I leave all that to the experts! But if you prefer not to have anaesthetic it's your choice. Good luck!
I remember when I had mine (or not) that I said after it had finished that I didn't think the sedation had worked...the nurse replied that I should have been where she was (up by my head) as apparently my eyes were rolling about as I was out of it. I also thought it was over in about 2 mins when it had been about 10. Good stuff!
The other thing to think about when opting for sedation or not is how to get home... I was told that I could not drive until the following day if I had the twilight sedation; however good I felt my insurance would be void if I had an accident. Took public transport to the hospital and my husband was able to pick me up afterwards. Another thing to consider.
